Last winter weekend: North stormy; mild in the South

Mar. 15, 2013
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Emma Rasberry, 4, left, sings to herself while she and her brother Mason Rasberry, 9, enjoy the warm weather Wednesday in Nacogdoches, Texas. More warm weather is on tap for the southern USA this weekend. / Andrew D. Brosig AP

by Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

by Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

A pair of storms will move across the northern USA this weekend, bringing damp and chilly conditions from the Northwest to the Northeast. Meanwhile, very warm and dry weather is expected across the nation's southern tier on this final weekend of winter.

Winter hangs on in the North: A dreary Saturday is on tap for much of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Light rain is likely from Kentucky to New Jersey. Light snow is also forecast in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Very cold temperatures are also expected for the northern Plains, upper Midwest and around the Great Lakes both Saturday and Sunday. High temperatures will only be in the teens, 20s and 30s.

A second wintry storm will move from the Pacific Northwest into the northern Plains this weekend. Rain is forecast on the Northwest coast Saturday and Saturday night, while the northern Cascades and northern Rockies will see snow. More than a foot of snow is possible in high mountain elevations.

On Sunday, the storm will bring snow and gusty winds over the Plains of Montana and North Dakota. Local whiteout conditions are possible at times. The storm will then bring snow to Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois on Monday.

Summerlike South: Temperatures will soar into the 70s and 80s from the Desert Southwest to Florida both Saturday and Sunday. Skies will also be clear, though winds will be strong in Texas and New Mexico.